Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1887-12-29
SOLDERING IN DAKOTA.
keminiseenccsofa an Expedition against
the Indians In 1864.

ionged to Co. b, 9th lava Cavalry. .-Epsl
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
AS winter passed away another exped;-
ton to the north WIS talked of for the
simmer Nothing Of particular interest
transplred, however, until about the first
OF June, when the monotony was broken
by the arrival OF four rebel Companies,
These rebel soldiers had been held as
prisoners of war on the Island of Dayen
port and had enlisted in the U. s. service
rather than be in prison, with the under.
standing that they were to be sent cut on
the frontier. To make room for these
soldiers our company was sent cut to
camp on the bank of the river two miles
above TT. Sully. In the fore part of June
the expedition was made up and started
north for Devils Lake-our company be-
ing left behind fer the purpose Of carrying
dispatches 10 and from the expedition
A regular stage line connects TT. Randall
with civilization, but from there all mail
matter, dispatches, etc. was taken mp TO
FITS Thompson, Sully and on up the
river. The expedition had been gone
some little time before dispatches began
arriving for us to take on up to the csm-
mand. When a dispatch came to TT.
Randall, detail of two or three soldiers
took 1t to Ft. Thompson, then others
brought it to Sully, where they were re.
lieved and FIVE Of our boys sent Oh with
the dispatch to the expedition. As soon
as dispatch left our camp, Ave more SOL
diers were at once detailed TO be in readi-
ness for the next one, which might arrive
in twenty -four hours, or perhaps not for
week or two. The eleventh dispatch had
gone and another detail made. consisting
of privates ellison, Stickley, Rice and my
self, under command OF Sergeant Mat
WItted. We had no duty to perform but
10 keep ourselves in readiness for the
twelfth dispatch, which was brought in
on the evening of August Oath by Fl.
Thompson detail, after we had waited ten
days. We were ordered to pick out FIVE
of the best horses and start ON with the
dispatch Just as the sun was g ping down
we started north with the best wishes of
che boys that We would go through and
back all safe as the rest had done SO far
Our orders were to 20 through to Ft. Rice
two hundred miles-in two days and
half. Although there Was no moon, the
night was clear and objects could be seen
some little distance, Al out midnight |
while Rice and myself were riding in the
lead discovered some objects ahead of |
us, but could not tell what they were. / !
objects and he yelled who comes there?"
We at once received answer Soldiers |
from Ft. Rice-Who comes thsref" After |
exchanging few words we advanced and !
found it to be seven boys OF Co, G, 9th
Iowa Cavalry, on their way to Ft. Sally |
with dispatch. We picketed our horses,
rested and talked with the boys about an |
hour. They had seen no Indians, but !
judging from numerous fresh signs"
thought the country was full of them. We |
struck ont again and kept moving all night !
and til late in the morning, when We came |
to little stream of water about forty |
for getting our breakfast. Each carried |
hardtack and coffee, and an old tin can to !
make coffee in. One of The boys alse had |
a canvass ham tied to his saddle. lot Of |
started, but on cutting the ham foun 4 it to |
be spoiled, SO we had to throw it away,
and breakfast on hardtack and coffee. i |
had not been in the saddle before for ten |
months to ride ten miles all told, and |
was forced to confess was about played |
out after riding all night. and feared l |
could never get through on hardtack and |
coffee. But is was go through or die in
place between the forts. The boys en-.
couraged me with the promise of an ante
lope, and we resumed our journey after
an hour and q half rest. We had not gone
far when sure enough Rice succeeded in
shooting an antelope, which We qsartered
without skinning, and hung it onto our
saddles, anticipating rare dinner when
VIC reached the Little Cheyenne nver.
| A little before noon we came in sight Of
| the Cheyenne, and about the same time
=, discovered large Indian camp t. the left
of our trail 1--WE followed the trail made by
the expedition when it went up in the
spring. The camp appeared to contain
about four or five hundred Indians, and Of
course brought us TO a halt, at once dis.
pelling all thoughts of our dinner. Some
of the boys wanted to put back for Ft.
Sully and make run for our lives, but
after talking the matter over We saw that
would net do, as the Indians had undoubt-
edly seen us as soon, or perhaps before
We had them, So we concluded We might
as well go down into their camp and be
killed as to be chased MI over the prairie.
only to meet death in the end, With
thoughts coursing through our brains
that would be hard to put into words, We
started on over the rough ground border
ing the river, deciding that IL the Indians
did not come out after us We would keep
to the trail and pass their camp to the left
of us. Thus we displayed the inordinate
tenacity with which humanity clings to life
and hC pc, even IN the face Of almost eer-
tain death Our anncipatioas of becoming
objects of the aendish delight Of these
savage brutes by horrible torture at the
stake, was Mingled with re new of cur
past in such manner as to cause the
drama of an entire life TO be enacted In
the space of very few minutes-intensi-
fed in proportion to its condensation.
Our slender hope was soon dispelled en-
tirely, as our better Judgment had told MS
must be the result. We had gone but
little distance toward the creek, when in
passing by steep bluff we were all at once